One of the things I’ve really enjoyed and discovered in France is equestrian sports. To be honest, I’m not much of a rider, but I’m doing my best

But somehow, over the past year and a half living in France, I’ve been visiting the stables regularly - mostly, of course, as a photographer

Now, as I prepare to move to Germany, the number of visits has gone from a steady once a week on Saturdays to a steady 3–4 times a week, but you know, there’s one incredible upside to this. It’s calming. I feel like all that time spent saddling horses, interacting with them, caring for them, and taking photos really helped me unwind mentally

You get used to their personalities, especially since you rarely get the chance to ride the same horse twice, and generally speaking, no one stops you from wandering among the stables and simply cuddling with them or feeding them something tasty and nutritious. It’s funny how they recognize you. It’s nice to know they’re happy to see you. And I’m not talking about people right now

I’ve found my favorites there, and I always make sure to stop by to see them—unless, of course, they’re training in the dressage arena

And visiting there really brought me back down to earth during my depressive episodes, which, all things considered, is actually quite helpful. It’s a different story if you’re afraid of horses - in that case, you can just appreciate the photos